The nationwide cash-crunch following the demonetisation move of the central government has claimed three lives in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

The deaths took place in Banda and Hamirpur districts.

The deceased have been identified as Anisa Khatun, 50, Phooljhar, 45 and Ghasita Kushwaha, 55.

Khatun was suffering from tuberculosis and was undergoing treatment.

Her son Shahrukh said: "My mother was in the queue outside a bank on Monday for around two hours but was unable to get cash. On returning home, she fell ill and died early on Tuesday."

Phooljhar, a farmer, was also unable to procure cash to pay for his treatment and passed away while Kushwaha, who was trying to get cash for a week, suffered a heart-attack after spending a long time in the queue on Tuesday.

Talking about the deaths, Banda DIG Gyaneshwar Tiwari said: "No one has come forward to lodge an FIR so far. A probe would be carried out on receiving complaint."

The Narendra Modi-led central government on November 8 announced demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to curb the menace of black money and corruption.

Since then, serpentine queues outside banks and ATMs to attain cash have become a regular feature across the country.

--IANS

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